Early Book Review: The Magic of Sleep: A Fascinating Guide to the World of Slumber by Vicky Woodgate

The Magic of Sleep: A Fascinating Guide to the World of Slumber by Vicky Woodgate is currently scheduled for release on March 2 2021. We spend about 26 years of our lives sleeping, but how much do you really know about what happens when your head hits the pillow? This book answers all your questions about what goes on in your head when you snooze, including the difference between light and deep sleep, where dreams come from, and how essential sleep is to staying healthy. Discover fascinating facts about how people slept in the past, and how people sleep in different ways around the world. Did you know that the oldest mattress was found in South Africa and is 77,000 years old? As well as humans, learn about the sleeping habits of other animals, from bears hibernating to how bats sleep upside down. Even plants sleep! Finally, learn how you can get a proper night's sleep with practical tips and ideas for meditation to calm your mind before bedtime. 

The Magic of Sleep is a well written, illustrated, and organized book about sleep for young readers. I thought the chosen information was well phrased. It made the information interesting and engaging while not crossing the line into being condescending. I thought the illustrations did a good job of demonstrating the facts while keeping or increasing the interest of the reader. I will admit that I recently listed to an audiobook on the same topic, for the same age group. They started of very similar, and shared many of the same facts,  so it was hard for me to separate the two in my mind. However, since both covered the topic so well, and with such a high interest level, being compared did nothing to decrease my enjoyment of either. I enjoyed that the time was taken to include a glossary and index, to allow for a closer reading and understanding for interested readers. 

Audiobook Review: 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime: 30 Amazing Stories: Featuring Frozen Frogs, King Tut’s Beds, the World's Biggest Sleepover, the Phases of the Moon, and More by Britannica Books

 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime: 30 Amazing Stories: Featuring Frozen Frogs, King Tut’s Beds, the World's Biggest Sleepover, the Phases of the Moon, and More by Britannica Books was narrated by Joanna Lumley. It was written by Jackie McCann, Jen Arena, and Sally Symes.

Why do we sleep? How do sharks snooze underwater? Where is the oldest bed in the world? In this compendium of 5-minute really true stories about bedtime, you can go on a journey of wonder and learning to find out the answers to all these questions, and many more! Travel to Ancient Egypt to explore the beds of Tutankhamun, jet off into space to see how astronauts get ready for bed, or even plunge underwater to learn how hibernating turtles breathe through their bottoms! There are 30 amazing 5-minute stories, with all facts verified by Britannica.

5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime has thirty five minute sections, but I am not sure that I would classify them as stories. Each of the segments is well told and researched, with a combination of silly or weird facts and more serious sounding information about sleep and all sorts of things related to it. They are interesting to listen to and full of information that will be new to most of the young readers or listeners that this book is aimed at. The book information says that the printed version has specially commissioned artwork, which I expect will help keep the attention of young readers, however the audiobook narrator did a wonderful job with inflection and emotion to keep my attention and interest. Please keep in mind that this is a book that uses British vernacular, and some terms in the text are different because of this. Those that have a hard time with things like lorry instead of truck, biscuit instead of cookie, and so on just be forewarned.  I love it, and think it is a great thing for readers of all ages to understand that people that speak the same language do not always sound the same. 

5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime is a great bedtime, or anytime, read. Perfect for short reads together.

Book Review: My Friend Sleep by Laura Baker, Hannah Peck

My Friend Sleep is a picturebook written by Laura Baker and illustratrated by Hannah Peck. This story is meant to help parents tackle the common issue of night terrors in young children. Readers travel alongside the main character through her dreams, and her friend Sleep. Greet friendly aliens, ride on a dragon's back and meet a scary monster, who turns out to be not-so scary after all. With Sleep by your side, nothing is as terrifying as it seems.

My Friend Sleep is a beautifully illustrated journey through dreamland. I liked how the artwork was dreamy and creative, following the imagination of the dreamer. I also like how it showed the good things that we can see in our dreams, and gives young readers a way to cope or change the bad that they might dream. The text and illustrations paired together well, and I think the overall effect was lovely. I am not sure if it will have the desired effect for children that are afraid to sleep and thus avoid bedtime and fight it, but I think it is well worth a try.

Early Book Review: Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri is a children's graphic novel currently scheduled for release on November 6 2018.  Tiger is a very lucky kid: she has a monster living under her bed. Every night, Tiger and Monster play games until it’s time for lights out. Of course, Monster would never try to scare Tiger—that’s not what best friends do. But Monster needs to scare someone…it’s a monster, after all. So while Tiger sleeps, Monster scares all of her nightmares away. Thanks to her friend, Tiger has nothing but good dreams. But waiting in the darkness is a nightmare so big and mean that Monster can’t fight it alone. Only teamwork and a lot of bravery can chase this nightmare away.

Tiger vs. Nightmare is a cute graphic novel about friendship. The artwork is cute, but I was not a huge fan. It looked a little unfinished, but I think that was more because I was looking at an electronic, early galley rather than the final copy. I fully expect that in the final version the artwork will be crisper. Tiger is friends with the monster under her bed, but of course everyone thinks the monster is her imagination. I love that the monster decided not to scare Tiger, but to scare away nightmares instead.However, eventually there is a nightmare too powerful for the monster to fight alone, and feels terrible when it slips by, but cannot admit what happened and becomes more determined to take care of Tiger. He dedication and guilt are things that most of us can relate to. The desire not to admit or failings, or ask for help when we need it is something adults struggle with just as much as kids. I like that Tiger is paying attention to Monster and is ready to help her friend. Friendship, support, and teamwork between the friends, along with the understanding that the nightmare is coming from Tiger's mind, are key lessons of the story, and wonderfully told. Facing your fears and dealing with nightmares like Tiger is a wonderful example to follow, and something even the most outwardly brave child can stand to hear.  I like that her parents do not try to talk away the monster, but support Tiger in her connection and imagination. The supportive family is nice to see in a world of kidlit that often has clueless or unhelpful adults. 

Tiger vs. Nightmare is  graphic novel for young readers that tells a wonderful story about friendship, facing your fears, and supporting others.